Gauge for use with mechanical binding machines



Nov. 8, 1955 w. L FRITZ GAUGE FOR USE WITH MECHANICAL BINDING MACHINES Filed OCT.. 28, 1952 4 Unite States Patent O GAUGE FOR USE WTH MECHANICAL BINDING MACHINES William L. Fritz, Elmhurst, lll., assigner to General Binding Corporation, Chicago, lll., a corporation of Illinois Application ctober 28, 1952, Serial No. 317,324

Claims. (Cl. 33-168) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in gauges and more particularly relates to gauges for determining the diameter of plastic binding elements to be used for various thicknesses of stacked sheets.

Ring type or circular plastic binding elements having a plurality of plastic rings connected together by a strip or backbone have come into general use for binding stacked sheets in the form of books or pamphlets. Due to the simplicity of these binding elements, they are frequently used by individuals inexperienced in book binding. For this purpose portable binding machines have been provided, which spread or open the binding elements for insertion in the punched sheets. Diiiiculty however is frequently encountered by those inexperienced in book binding in determining the proper diameter of binder to be used, the length of the binder or the number of rings required and the required distance the holes should be punched from the inner or back margin of the stack of sheets.

My invention has as its principal objects to remedy these difficulties by providing a simple form of gauge enabling the diameter of ring required for binding a stack of sheets to readily be determined.

A further object of my invention is to provide a simplitied form of gauge adapted to gauge a stack of sheets to determine the diameter of binding element required to bind the sheets, the distance the sheets should be punched from the inner margin thereof for the required diameter binding element, and the number of rings required for the length of sheet to be bound.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a simple and compact form of gauge for the purpose stated, which is simple in construction and is formed from a single sheet of material, recessed to gauge the sheets, and marked with suitable graduations.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a gauge for gauging the diameter of binding element to be used for various thicknesses of stacked sheets, for binding the same, having a relatively long recess therein with one rectilinear marginal face engageable with an outer sheet of a stack of sheets and a second marginal face diverging from said rectilinear face from the inner margin thereof toward the outer edge of the gauge and graduated to indicate the required diameter of binding element necessary for the stack of sheets inserted within said recess.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a gauge for visually indicating the required diameter of binding element necessary to bind a stack of sheets, which also includes means for determining the distance the sheet should be punched from the inner margins thereof, for various diameters of binding elements and the length of the binding element, or the number of rings required to bind a stack of sheets of the length measured.

These and other objects of my invention will appear from time to time as the following specication proceeds and with reference to the accompanying drawingsl where- Patented Nov. 8, 1955 ICC Figure 1 is a plan View of a gauge constructed in accordance with my invention, illustrating one manner in which the gauge may be used to gauge a stack of sheets and determine the correct diameter of binding element required to bind the sheets; and

Figure 2 is a view somewhat similar to Figure l and illustrating the measuring of the sheets to determine the proper length of binding element required for the binding operation.

Referring now in detail to the drawings the improved gauge of my invention is shown as being formed from a iiat piece of material which may be a stii cardboard, Celluloid, a sheet of plastic material or a thin metal sheet. The gauge is shown as comprising a body portion 10 of a generally oblong form and having a gauging recess 11 therein opening from an end wall 12 thereof and extending therealong for a substantial portion of the length thereof. The gauging recess 11 is shown as having a rectilinear wall 13, generally parallel to the longitudinal edge of the body 10 and terminating in an end wall 14. A wall -15 is shown as diverging from the wall 13 to form a stop for various thicknesses of stacked sheets inserted within said recess 11, to indicate the diameter of binder required to bind the sheets at the stopping place of the gauge or sheets.

As herein shown, the wall 13 of the recess 11 is generally parallel to the` outer edge thereof, although it need not be parallel, and the diverging wall 15 of the recess 11 is shown as being stepped and as having a plurality of steps 16, 16 formed therein, each of which steps is uniformly graduated and has indicia thereon indicating the required diameter of binder necessary for binding a stack of sheets engaging the end wall or riser of the next inwardly spaced step.

As shown in the drawings, the inner step 16 has the indicia 3/16 marked thereon, indicating that where the gauge is inserted along a stack of sheets and may be extended entirely to the end wall 14 of said recess, that a plastic binder '0716 inch in diameter is suitable for binding this stack of sheets. The next step has the indicia 1A; marked thereon, indicating that where the stack of sheets is stopped at the riser of the extreme inner step 16, that a 1A inch diameter binder is required to bind the sheets. The next succeeding steps are all graduated and scaled in accordance with the diameter binder required to bind the sheets engaging the edge of the respective step when the gauge is inserted therealong.

It should be here understood that when the gauge and gauging recess 11 is moved along a stack of sheets, that the size or" the binding element required to bind the sheets is determined by the indicia on the step extending outwardly or forwardly from the riser stopping movement of the gauge along the stack of sheets, regardless vof whether the stack entirely fills the space between the wall 13 and the edge of the corresponding step 16 along which the gauge stops, as illustrated in Figure 1.

Along one longitudinal edge of the body 10 and shown as registering with the aligned steps 16, 16 are oblong indicia 17, 17 which may be marked on the body 10 or may be punched therethrough. The indicia 17, 17 are shown as being equal in size to the holes to be punched in the stack of sheets to be bound and as being spaced apart in accordance with the length of the steps 16, 1'6. The indicia 17, 17 are also shown as being spaced varying distances inwardly from the edge of the stack of sheets, to indicate the setting of the back gauge of the punch or the required distance the holes should be punched'from the back edge of the stack of sheets for the various diameters of binding elements to be used.

Where the markings or indicia 17, 17 are punched in the body 10 the two end punches of a gang of punches may be inserted through two aligned holes in order to accurately gauge the setting of the back gauge of the punch. As herein shown the two indicia 17, 17 in alinement with the two inner steps 16, 16 marked 1%6 and 1A; are spaced closely adjacent the longitudinal edge of the gauge, while the next two indicia 17, 17 are spaced farther in from the edge of the gauge indicating that where a /f; or :Vs diameter of binder is used, the sheets should be punched a predetermined distance farther in from the back edge of the sheets, than where the 3/16 or A inch diameter binder is used. The succeeding indicia 17, 17 are shown as being progressively spaced inwardly from the longitudinal marginal edge of the gauge for each two diameters of bindings or each two steps 16, 16 of the gauge until the last four steps of the gauge are reached, for binders 3A inch in diameter up to l/s inches in diameter. The indicia 17, 17 aligned with the steps for binders of 3A inch up to 11/8 inches in diameter are shown as being the farthest in from the longitudinal edge of the body and are in alignment with each other, indicating that the spacing of the punched holes from the edge of the sheet for these diameters of binders should be the same.

On an opposite longitudinal edge 18 of the body 10 from the depth indicating gauge marks, is a graduated scale having aligned indicia 19, 19 spaced therealong from one end thereof to the other of the size and spacing of the holes to be punched in the bound sheets. These indicia are consecutively numbered and indicate the number of rings required for the length of sheets of the stack of sheets to be bound.

In order that the gauge may be carried in the pocket and be used for long sheets, a scale 21 which may be made of the Same material as the body 10, is pivoted to the body as by a rivet 22, to be extended along the edge thereof. The scale 21 is likewise provided with rectangular markings preferably of the size of the holes to be punched in the sheets to be bound and numbered consecutively from the last indicia along the margin 18, to form a continuation of the indicia 19, 19. When the scale 21 is opened to extend in alignment with the edge 18 of the body 10 the number of rings required to bind sheets of greater length than the length of the body 10 may readily be determined by aligning the scale with the sheet.

As herein shown, the first marking or indicia mark 19 is spaced a distance from the side edge 12 of the body 10 equal to one-half the space between adjacent holes to be punched in the sheet. Thus when the sheet is placed with its edge in alignment with the side edge of the body 10 the holes will be properly spaced with respect to the edge of the sheet and the number of holes to be punched in the sheet, and the rings necessary to bind the sheet may readily be determined. It is of course, obvious, that the spacing of the punched holes from the opposite edges of the sheet may be varied and that the edge of the scale may be spaced outwardly from or inwardly of the edge of the sheet, to designate the number of rings required for various desired spacings from the edge of the sheet.

It may be seen from the foregoing that a simple form of scale has been provided, visually indicating at a glance the diameter of binding ring required for binding a stack of sheets and the distance the punched holes should be punched from the rear edge of the sheets, so the sheets will lie dat when opened and will not tear from the binding elements and visually indicating the correct number of rings required to bind the sheets together.

It will be understood that various modifications and variations of the present invention may be elected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts thereof.

I claim as my invention:

1. A gauge for use with mechanical binding machines comprising an elongated relatively flat body having a gauging recess therein opening toward one end thereof and extending therealong for a substantial portion of the length thereof, said recess having one rectilinear marginal wall engageable with an outer sheet of a stack of sheets and having another marginal wall diverging from said rectilinear wall toward the entrance of said recess and being graduated and having indicia thereon to show the required diameter of binding element to be used for various thicknesses of stacked sheets, and said gauge also having indicia along one longitudinal edge thereof in registry with the graduations and indicia of said diverging wall, to show the required distance the holes should be punched from the inner edge of the stack of sheets, to accommodate the sheets to open and lie flat when bound, and to prevent tearing of the sheets from the binding elements.

2. A gauge for use with mechanical binding machines comprising an elongated relatively flat body having a gauging recess therein opening toward one end thereof and extending therealong for a substantial portion of the length thereof, said recess having one rectilinear marginal wall engageable with an outer sheet of a stack of sheets and having another marginal wall diverging from said rectilinear wall toward the entrance of said recess and being graduated and having indicia thereon to show the required diameter of binding element to be used for varions thicknesses of stacked sheets, and said gauge also having indicia along one longitudinal edge thereof in registry with the graduations and indicia of said diverging wall, to show the required distance the holes should be punched from the inner edge of the stack of sheets, to accommodate the sheets to open and lie flat when bound, and to prevent tearing of the sheets from the binding elements, the opposite longitudinal edge of said gauge also being graduated to indicate the number of rings required for a particular length of sheet being bound.

3. In a gauge of the class described, an elongated oblong body having a recess therein opening to an end thereof and having one marginal wall extending generally parallel to a longitudinal edge of said body for a substantial portion of the length thereof and also having another marginal wall uniformly diverging from the inner end of said one marginal wall as it extends therealong, said diverging wall being uniformly stepped and graduated, and the risers of the steps thereof limiting the distance the gauge may be extended along a stack of sheets within said recess, and indicia on said steps indicating the required diameter of binder for the stack of sheets stopping at an associated step, one longitudinal edge of said body having a scale thereon registering with the steps of said recess and indicating the proper distance of punching the holes from the inner margins of the sheets, for various diameters of binding elements.

4. In a gauge of the class described, an elongated oblong body having a recess therein opening to an end thereof and having one marginal wall extending generally parallel to a longitudinal edge of said body for a substantial portion of the length thereof and also having another marginal wall uniformly diverging from the inner end of said one marginal wall as it extends therealong, said diverging wall being uniformly stepped and graduated, and the risers of the steps thereof limiting the distance the gauge may be extended along a stack of sheets within said recess, and indicia on said steps indicating the required diameter of binder for the stack of sheets stopping at an associated step, one longitudinal edge of said body having a scale thereon registering with the steps of said recess and indicating the proper distance of punching the holes from the inner margins of the sheets, for various diameters of binding elements, the opposite longitudinal edge of said gauge being graduated and having indicia extending therealong indicating the number of rings suitable for a particular length of sheet.

5. In a gauge of the class described, an elongated oblong body having a recess therein opening to an end thereof and having one marginal wall extending generally parallel to a longitudinal edge of said body for a substantial portion of the length thereof and also having another marginal wall uniformly diverging from the inner end of said one marginal wall as it extends therealong, said diverging wall being uniformly stepped and graduated, and the risers of the steps thereof limiting the distance the gauge may be extended along a stack of sheets within said recess, and indicia on said steps indicating the required diameter of binder for the stack of sheets stopping at an associated step, one longitudinal edge of said body having a scale thereon registering with the steps of said recess and indicating the proper distance of punching the holes from the inner margins of the sheets, for various diameters of binding elements, the opposite longitudinal edge of said gauge being graduated and hav- 5 of rings required for a particular length of sheet.

References Cited in the ile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 387,284 Dupee Aug. 7, 1888 787,974 Clark Apr. 25, 1905 1,145,244 Hoimann July 6, 1915 1,389,486 Brewer Aug. 30, 1921 

